Alabama came into the BYU game with 6-of-21 and 7-of-17 shooting from distance in a pair of NCAA tourney wins. As the No. 1 2-point shooting team, Young’s staff emphasized stopping that aspect of Alabama’s attack and analytically believed a struggling Mark Sears and Company would cool off. They never did, and Sears made 10 treys.

The Cougars' coach and players shared their early thoughts following season's end in the Sweet 16. It wasn't No. 6-seed BYU's night in Newark on Thursday during the Sweet 16. No. 2 Alabama made 25 three-point shots and made it into the Elite Eight with a 113-88 victory at the Prudential Center.

So egregious was their resistance in that regard, it helped the Crimson Tide, as Young alluded to, set an NCAA Tournament single-game record for made deep balls (25 of 51). Some of that was straight due to great shot-making. But the Cougars’ lapses gave ‘Bama shooters full license to feel like they were channeling Steph Freaking Curry.